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FAIDPUR: Nine warehouses storing jute, onions, garlic, rice and other goods were gutted in a fire at Falia Bazar in Alfadanga upazila of Faridpur. The fire broke out at around 7:30pm on Saturday (October 24) at the market in Buraiich Union.
According to local sources, the fire originated in a warehouse owned by Masud Mondol, a jute and onion trader, before quickly spreading to nearby warehouses and shops. After receiving the information, firefighters from Alfadanga and Boalmari fire stations rushed to the scene and began efforts to bring the blaze under control.
Before their arrival, local residents had been trying to extinguish the fire by collecting water from the nearby Barashia River. After around two and a half hours of efforts by firefighters and locals, the fire was brought under control. However, most of the goods stored in the warehouses had already been destroyed.
The owners of the damaged warehouses include Habibur Rahman Habi Mondol, 45; Firoz Member, 55; Masud Mondol, 35; Milton Mollia, 30; Jewel Mondol, 30; Imrul Mollia, 35; and Kalam Mollia.
According to preliminary estimates by locals, each warehouse contained goods worth around Tk 40 lakh to Tk 50 lakh. The actual extent of the damage has yet to be determined.
Local trader Md Kislur Khalashi said he came out of his shop after hearing people shouting and saw flames and smoke coming from Masud’s jute warehouse. He then alerted the fire service, but the blaze had already spread to nearby warehouses and shops.
Firoz Member, one of the affected traders, said he learned about the fire after returning home from the market, where he had closed his warehouse. When he returned, he found that the goods inside had been burned.
He said he had been running his jute business with borrowed money and would struggle to continue without government assistance.
Masud said goods worth around Tk 50 lakh had been destroyed in his warehouse. He had purchased the goods by selling land and borrowing money.
Boalmari Fire Service Station Master Royal Ahmed said four firefighting units from two stations worked to extinguish the blaze. He said an electrical short circuit might have caused the fire. The exact amount of damage has not yet been assessed.
Alfadanga Fire Station Master Obaidur Rahman said firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving the report and began efforts to control the fire. Water was collected from the nearby Barashia River, and the blaze was brought under control after around two and a half hours.
The actual extent of the damage will be known after an investigation, he added.